Articles | Volume 26, issue 6
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-4531-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-4531-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Three-dimensional hollow tubular structure of rocket chemical depletion
Chunyu Deng
Hubei Subsurface Multi-scale Imaging Key Laboratory, School of Geophysics and Geomatics, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
Hubei Key Laboratory of Planetary Geology and Deep-Space Exploration, School of Earth Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
Xiangxiang Yan
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Hubei Subsurface Multi-scale Imaging Key Laboratory, School of Geophysics and Geomatics, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
Hubei Key Laboratory of Planetary Geology and Deep-Space Exploration, School of Earth Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
Key Laboratory of Geological Survey and Evaluation of Ministry of Education, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
Tao Yu
Hubei Subsurface Multi-scale Imaging Key Laboratory, School of Geophysics and Geomatics, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
Hubei Key Laboratory of Planetary Geology and Deep-Space Exploration, School of Earth Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
Key Laboratory of Geological Survey and Evaluation of Ministry of Education, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
Chunliang Xia
Hubei Subsurface Multi-scale Imaging Key Laboratory, School of Geophysics and Geomatics, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
Hubei Key Laboratory of Planetary Geology and Deep-Space Exploration, School of Earth Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
Key Laboratory of Geological Survey and Evaluation of Ministry of Education, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
Yifan Qi
Hubei Key Laboratory of Planetary Geology and Deep-Space Exploration, School of Earth Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
Key Laboratory of Geological Survey and Evaluation of Ministry of Education, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
Related authors
No articles found.
Jianping Guo, Jian Zhang, Kun Yang, Hong Liao, Shaodong Zhang, Kaiming Huang, Yanmin Lv, Jia Shao, Tao Yu, Bing Tong, Jian Li, Tianning Su, Steve H. L. Yim, Ad Stoffelen, Panmao Zhai, and Xiaofeng Xu
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 17079–17097, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-17079-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-17079-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
The planetary boundary layer (PBL) is the lowest part of the troposphere, and boundary layer height (BLH) is the depth of the PBL and is of critical importance to the dispersion of air pollution. The study presents the first near-global BLH climatology by using high-resolution (5-10 m) radiosonde measurements. The variations in BLH exhibit large spatial and temporal dependence, with a peak at 17:00 local solar time. The most promising reanalysis product is ERA-5 in terms of modeling BLH.
Cited articles
Anderson, D. A. and Bernhardt, P. A.: Modeling the effects of an H2 gas release on the equatorial ionosphere, J. Geophys. Res., 83, 4777–4790, https://doi.org/10.1029/JA083iA10p04777, 1978.
Arendt, P. R.: Ionospheric undulations following Apollo 14 Launching, Nature, 231, 438–439, https://doi.org/10.1038/231438a0, 1971.
Arras, C. and Wickert, J.: Estimation of ionospheric sporadic E intensities from GPS radio occultation measurements, J. Atmos. Sol.-Terr. Phy., 171, 60–63, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jastp.2017.08.006, 2017.
Astafyeva, E., Lognonné, P., and Rolland, L.: First ionospheric images of the seismic fault slip on the example of the Tohoku-oki earthquake, Geophys. Res. Lett., 38, L22104, https://doi.org/10.1029/2011GL049623, 2011.
Barker, C. R., Marais, E. A., and McDowell, J. C.: Global 3D rocket launch and re-entry air pollutant and CO2 emissions at the onset of the megaconstellation era, Sci. Data, 11, 1079, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-024-03910-z, 2024.
Bernhardt, P. A.: The response of the ionosphere to the injection of chemically reactive vapors, Technical Report No. NASA-CR-149941, Stanford University., https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/19760021631 (last access: 1 April 2026), 1976.
Bernhardt, P. A.: A critical comparison of ionospheric depletion chemicals, J. Geophys. Res., 92, 4617–4628, https://doi.org/10.1029/JA092iA05p04617, 1987.
Bernhardt, P. A., Huba, J. D., Swartz, W. E., and Kelley, M. C.: Incoherent scatter from space shuttle and rocket engine plumes in the ionosphere, J. Geophys. Res., 103, 2239–2251, https://doi.org/10.1029/97JA02866, 1998.
Bernhardt, P. A., Huba, J. D., Kudeki, E., Woodman, R. F., Condori, L., and Villanueva, F.: Lifetime of a depression in the plasma density over Jicamarca produced by space shuttle exhaust in the ionosphere, Radio Sci., 36, 1209–1220, https://doi.org/10.1029/2000RS002434, 2001.
Bernhardt, P. A., Ballenthin, J. O., Baumgardner, J. L., Bhatt, A., Boyd, I. D., Burt, J. M., Caton, J. M., Coster, A., Erickson, P. J., Huba, J. D., Earle, G. D., Kaplan, C. R., Foster, J. C., Groves, K. M., Haaser, R. A., Heelis, R. A., Hunton, D. E., Hysell, D. L., Klenzing, J. H., Larsen, M. F., Lind, F. D., Pedersen, T. R., Pfaff, R. F., Stoneback, R. A., Roddy, P. A., Rodriquez, S. P., San Antonio, G. S., Schuck, P. W., Siefring, C. L., Selcher, C. A., Smith, S. M., Talaat, E. R., Thomason, J. F., Tsunoda, R. T., and Varney, R. H.: Ground and space-based measurement of rocket engine burns in the ionosphere, IEEE T. Plasma Sci., 40, 1267–1286, https://doi.org/10.1109/TPS.2012.2185814, 2012.
Bolden, R. C. and Twiddy, N. D.: A flowing afterglow study of water vapour, Faraday Discuss. Chem. Soc., 53, 192–200, https://doi.org/10.1039/DC9725300192, 1972.
Booker, H. G.: A local reduction of F-region ionization due to missile transit, J. Geophys. Res., 66, 1073–1079, https://doi.org/10.1029/JZ066i004p01073, 1961.
Bowden, G. W., Lorrain, P., and Brown, M.: Numerical simulation of ionospheric depletions resulting from rocket launches using a general circulation model, J. Geophys. Res.-Space, 125, e2020JA027836, https://doi.org/10.1029/2020ja027836, 2020.
Chou, M., Shen, M., Lin, C. C. H., Yue, J., Chen, C., Liu, J., and Lin, J.: Gigantic circular shock acoustic waves in the ionosphere triggered by the launch of FORMOSAT-5 satellite, Space Weather, 16, 172–184, https://doi.org/10.1002/2017SW001738, 2018.
Deng, C.: ACP-code-2026, GitHub [code], https://github.com/chunyuD-cug/ACP-code-2026.git (last access: 1 April 2026), 2026.
Doornbos, E., Klinkrad, H., and Visser, P.: Use of two-line element data for thermosphere neutral density model calibration, Adv. Space Res., 41, 1115–1122, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2006.12.025, 2008.
Fehsenfeld, F. C., Schmeltekopf, A. L., and Ferguson, E. E.: Thermal-Energy Ion—Neutral Reaction Rates. VII. Some Hydrogen-Atom Abstraction Reactions, J. Chem. Phys., 46, 2802–2808, https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1841117, 1976.
Feng, J., Guo, L., Xu, B., Wu, J., Xu, Z., Zhao, H., Ma, Z., Liang, Y., and Li, H.: Simulation of ionospheric depletions produced by rocket exhaust restricted by the trajectory, Adv. Space Res., 68, 2855–2864, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2021.05.006, 2021.
Ferguson, E. E.: Rate constants of thermal energy binary ion-molecule reactions of aeronomic interest, Atom. Data Nucl. Data Tables, 12, 159–178, https://doi.org/10.1016/0092-640X(73)90017-X, 1973.
Furuya, T. and Heki, K.: Ionospheric hole behind an ascending rocket observed with a dense GPS array, Earth Planets Space, 60, 235–239, https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03352786, 2008.
Gao, Z., Fang, H. X., and Wang, S., C.: Numerical Simulation of Ionospheric Disturbance Effects by Chemical H2O Release, Chinese J. Space Sci., 37, 39–49, https://doi.org/10.11728/cjss2017.01.039, 2017.
He, R., Li, M., Zhang, Q., and Zhao, Q.: A Comparison of a GNSS-GIMand the IRI-2020 model over China under different ionospheric conditions, Space Weather, 21, e2023SW003646, https://doi.org/10.1029/2023SW003646, 2023.
Heppner, R. A., Walls, F. L., Armstrong, W. T., and Dunn, G. H.: Cross-section measurements for electron-H3O+ recombination, Phys. Rev. A, 13, https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.13.1000, 1976.
Hu, Y. G., Zhao, Z. Y., and Zhang Y. N.: Disturbance effects of some representative chemical releases in ionosphere, Acta Phys. Sin., 59, 8293–8303, https://doi.org/10.7498/aps.59.8293, 2010.
Hu, Y. G., Zhao, Z. Y., and Zhang Y. N.: Ionospheric disturbances produced by chemical releases and the resultant effects on short-wave ionospheric propagation, J. Geophys. Res., 116, A07307, https://doi.org/10.1029/2011JA016438, 2011.
Hu, Y. G., Zhao, Z. Y., and Zhang, Y. N.: Ionospheric disturbances produced by chemical releases at different release altitudes, Acta Phys. Sin., 62, 209401, https://doi.org/10.7498/aps.62.209401, 2013.
Huang, Y., Shi J-M., and Yuan Z-C.: Ionosphere electron density depletion caused by chemical release, Chinese J. Geophys., 54, 1–5, https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.0001-5733.2011.01.001, 2011.
Jacobson, A. R. and Carlos, R. C.: Observations of acoustic-gravity waves in the thermosphere following Space Shuttle ascents, J. Atmos. Terr. Phys., 56, 525–528, https://doi.org/10.1016/0021-9169(94)90201-1, 1994.
Jin, S., Luo, O. F., and Park, P.: GPS observations of the ionospheric F2-layer behavior during the 20th November 2003 geomagnetic storm over South Korea, J. Geod., 82, 883–892, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00190-008-0217-x, 2008.
Kakinami, Y., Yamamoto, M., Chen, C., Watanabe, S., Lin, C., Liu, J., and Habu, H.: Ionospheric disturbances induced by a missile launched from North Korea on 12 December 2012. J. Geophys. Res.-Space, 118, 5184–5189, https://doi.org/10.1002/jgra.50508, 2013.
Klobuchar, J. A.: Ionospheric Effects on GPS, GPS World, 2, 48–51, 1991.
Lei, J., Syndergaard, S., Burns, A. G., Solomon, S. C., Wang, W., Zeng, Z., Roble, R. G., Wu, Q., Kuo, Y.-H., Holt, J. M., Zhang, S.-R., Hysell, D. L., Rodrigues, F. S., and Lin, C. H.: Comparison of COSMIC ionospheric measurements with ground-based observations and model predictions: Preliminary results, J. Geophys. Res., 112, A07308, https://doi.org/10.1029/2006JA012240, 2007.
Li, Y. Q., Jacobson, A. R., Carlos, R. C., Massey, R. S., Taranenko, Y. N., and Wu, G.: The blast wave of the Shuttle plume at ionospheric heights, Geophys. Res. Lett., 21, 2737–2740, https://doi.org/10.1029/94GL02548, 1994.
Lin, C. C., Shen, M.-H., Chou, M.-Y., Chen, C.-H., Yue, J., Chen, P.-C., and Matsumura, M.: Concentric traveling ionospheric disturbances triggered by the launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, Geophys. Res. Lett., 44, 7578–7586, https://doi.org/10.1002/2017GL074192, 2017a.
Lin, C. H., Chen, C.-H. Matsumura, M., Lin, J.-T., and Kakinami, Y.: Observation and simulation of the ionosphere disturbance waves triggered by rocket exhausts. J. Geophys. Res.-Space, 122, 8868–8882, https://doi.org/10.1002/2017JA023951, 2017b.
Lin, C.-Y., Lin, C. C.-H., Liu, J.-Y., Rajesh, P. K., Matsuo, T., Chou, M.-Y., Tsai H.-F., and Yeh, H.-W.: The early results and validation of FORMOSAT-7/COSMIC-2 space weather products: Global ionospheric specification and Ne-aided Abel electron density profile, J. Geophys. Res.-Space, 125, https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JA028028, 2020.
Liu, G. and Shepherd, G. G.: An empirical model for the altitude of the OH nightglow emission, Geophys. Res. Lett., 33, L09805, https://doi.org/10.1029/2005GL025297, 2006.
Liu, H., Ding, F., Yue, X., Zhao, B., Song, Q., Wan, W., Ning, B., and Zhang, K.: Depletion and traveling ionospheric disturbances generated by two launches of China's Long March 4B rocket, J. Geophys. Res.-Space, 123, 10319–10330, https://doi.org/10.1029/2018JA026096, 2018.
Mendillo, M.: Ionospheric holes: A review of theory and recent experiments, Adv. Space Res., 8, 51–62, https://doi.org/10.1016/0273-1177(88)90342-0, 1988.
Mendillo, M., Hawkins, G. S., and Klobuchar, J. A.: A Large-Scale Hole in the ionosphere caused by the launch of Skylab, Science, 187, 343–346, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.187.4174.343, 1975.
Mendillo, M., Semeter, J., and Noto, J.: Finite element simulation (FES): A computer modeling technique for studies of chemical modification of the ionosphere, Adv. Space Res., 13, 55–64, https://doi.org/10.1016/0273-1177(93)90050-L, 1993.
Mendillo, M., Smith, S., Coster, A., Erickson, P., Baumgardner, J., and Martinis, C.: Man-made Space Weather, Space Weather, 6, S09001, https://doi.org/10.1029/2008SW000406, 2008.
Nakashima, Y. and Heki, K.: Ionospheric hole made by the 2012 North Korean rocket observed with a dense GNSS array in Japan, Radio Sci., 49, 497–505, https://doi.org/10.1002/2014RS005413, 2014.
Noble, S. T.: A large-amplitude traveling ionospheric disturbance excited by the space shuttle during launch, J. Geophys. Res., 95, 19037–19044, https://doi.org/10.1029/JA095iA11p19037, 1990.
Ozeki, M. and Heki, K.: Ionospheric holes made by ballistic missiles from North Korea detected with a Japanese dense GPS array, J. Geophys. Res., 115, A09314, https://doi.org/10.1029/2010JA015531, 2010.
Park, J., Stolle, C., Xiong, C., Lühr, H., Pfaff, R. F., Buchert, S., and Martinis, C. R.: A dayside plasma depletion observed at midlatitudes during quiet geomagnetic conditions, Geophys. Res. Lett., 42, 967–974, https://doi.org/10.1002/2014GL062655, 2015.
Park, J., Kil, H., Stolle, C., Lühr, H., Coley, W. R., Coster, A., and Kwak, Y.-S.: Daytime midlatitude plasma depletions observed by Swarm: Topside signatures of the rocket exhaust, Geophys. Res. Lett., 43, 1802–1809, https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL067810, 2016.
Park, J., Rajesh, P. K., Ivarsen, M. F., Lin, C. C. H., Eastes, R. W., Chao, C. K., Coster, A. J., Clausen, L., and Burchill, J. K.: Coordinated observations of rocket exhaust depletion: GOLD, Madrigal TEC, and multiple low-Earth-orbit satellites, J. Geophys. Res.-Space, 127, e2021JA029909, https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JA029909, 2022.
Pradipta, R., Valladares, C. E., and Doherty, P. H.: An effective TEC data detrending method for the study of equatorial plasma bubbles and traveling ionospheric disturbances, J. Geophys. Res.-Space, 120, 11048–11055, https://doi.org/10.1002/2015JA021723, 2015.
Qiu, L., Yu, T., Yan, X., Sun, Y.-Y., Zuo, X., Yang, N., Wang, J., and Qi, Y.: Altitudinal and latitudinal variations in ionospheric sporadic-E layer obtained from FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC radio occultation, J. Geophys. Res.-Space, 126, e2021JA029454, https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JA029454, 2021.
Smith, D., Adams, N. G., and Miller, T. M.: A laboratory study of the reactions of N+, N , N , N , O+, O , and NO+ ions with several molecules at 300 K, J. Chem. Phys., 69, 308–318, https://doi.org/10.1063/1.436354, 1978.
UCAR COSMIC Program: COSMIC-1 Data, UCAR COSMIC Program [data set] https://doi.org/10.5065/ZD80-KD74, 2022.
Wand, R. H. and Mendillo, M.: Incoherent scatter observations of an artificially modified ionosphere, J. Geophys. Res., 89, 203–215, https://doi.org/10.1029/JA089iA01p00203, 1984.
Xie, H., Li, G., Ding, F., Zhao, X., Hu, L., Sun, W., Li, Y., Li, Y., Dai, G., Liu, J., Liu, L., and Ning, B.: Traveling ionospheric disturbances with huge semicircular and circular structures triggered by two rocket launches over China, J. Geophys. Res.-Space, 130, e2024JA033370, https://doi.org/10.1029/2024JA033370, 2025.
Xu, X., Hong, Z., Guo, P., and Liu, R.: Retrieval and validation of ionospheric measurements from COSMIC radio occultation, Acta Phys. Sin., 59, 2163–2168, https://doi.org/10.7498/aps.59.2163, 2010.
Yan, X., Yu, T., Shan, X., and Xia, C.: Ionospheric TEC disturbance study over seismically region in China, Adv. Space Res., 60, 2822–2835, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2016.12.004, 2017.
Yan, X., Sun, Y., Yu, T., Liu, J.-Y., Qi, Y., Xia, C., Zuo, X., and Yang, N.: Stratosphere perturbed by the 2011 Mw 9.0 Tohoku earthquake, Geophys. Res. Lett., 45, 10050–10056, https://doi.org/10.1029/2018GL079046, 2018.
Yan, X., Yu, T., Sun, Y. Xia, C., Zuo, X., Yang, N., Qi, Y., and Wang, J.: Vertical Structure of the Ionospheric Response Following the Mw 7.9 Wenchuan Earthquake on 12 May 2008, Pure Appl. Geophys., 177, 95–107, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00024-019-02175-7, 2020.
Yan, X., Yu, T., and Xia, C.: Limb Sounders Tracking Tsunami-Induced Perturbations from the Stratosphere to the Ionosphere, Remote Sens., 14, 5543, https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14215543, 2022.
Yasyukevich, Y. V., Vesnin, A. M., Astafyeva, E., Maletckii, B. M., Lebedev, V. P., and Padokhin, A. M.: Supersonic waves generated by the 18 November 2023 Starship flight and explosions: Unexpected northward propagation and a man-made non-chemical depletion, Geophys. Res. Lett., 51, e2024GL109284, https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL109284, 2024.
Yau, A. W., Whalen, B. A., Harris, F. R., Gattinger, R. L., Pongratz, M. B., and Bernhardt, P. A.: Simulations and observations of plasma depletion, ion composition, and airglow emissions in two auroral ionospheric depletion experiments, J. Geophys. Res., 90, 8387–8406, https://doi.org/10.1029/JA090iA09p08387, 1985.
Yue, X., Schreiner, W., Hunt, D., Rocken, C., and Kuo, Y.: Quantitative evaluation of the low Earth orbit satellite based slant total electron content determination, Space Weather, 9, S09001, https://doi.org/10.1029/2011SW000687, 2011.
Zhao, H., S., Xu Z., W., Wu Z., S., Feng, J., Wu, J., Xu, B., Xu, T., and Hu, Y.: A three-dimensional refined modeling for the effects of SF6 release in ionosphere, Acta Phys. Sin., 65, 209401, https://doi.org/10.7498/aps.65.209401, 2016.
Zhao, L., Ding, F., Yue, X., Xu, S., Wang, J., Cai, Y., Li, M., Zhang, N., Zhou, X., Wang, Y., Li, J., Mao, T., Song, Q., Xiong, B., Li, X., and Luo, J.: Vertical structural evolution of ionospheric holes triggered by rocket launches observed by the Sanya incoherent scatter radar, J. Geophys. Res.-Space, 129, e2024JA033171, https://doi.org/10.1029/2024JA033171, 2024.
Short summary
A rocket launch released gases high into the atmosphere and caused a large region where the number of free electrons dropped sharply. We combined satellite measurements, ground observations, and simulations to reveal the three-dimensional shape and evolution of this electron loss for the first time. The depletion formed quickly, expanded as the gases spread, and then slowly recovered. These results help us understand how frequent launches briefly disturb the space environment above Earth.
A rocket launch released gases high into the atmosphere and caused a large region where the...
Altmetrics
Final-revised paper
Preprint